Tapered sectional design for expansible units



Nov. 18, 1958 c. F. WAIT ET AL TAPERED SECTIONAL DESIGN FOR EXPANSIBLE UNITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1954 IIIO Nov. 18, 1958 c. F.-WAlT ET AL TAPERED SECTIONAL DESIGN FOR EXPANSIBLE UNITS Filed March 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS- Nov. 18, 1958 c F WAIT ET AL 2,860,384

' TAPERED SECTIONAL DESIGN FOR EXPANSIBLE UNITS Filed March 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TORS 5 FF m m C. F. WAIT ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5. Clydef BY DMZ/Md F C016,

Nov. 18, 1958 TAPERED SECTIONAL DESIGN FOR EXPANSIBLE UNITS Filed March 9, 1954 United States PatentO "ice TAPERED SECTIONAL DESIGN FOR EXPANSIBLE UNITS Clyde F. Wait and Donald F. Cole, Flint, Mich., assignors to Palace Corporation, Flint, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 414,968

Claims. (Cl. 20-2) This invention relates to expansible building units or trailers having expansible wing elements, and more particularly to a form of construction in such wing elements which is adapted to facilitate the expansion or folding thereof.

Previously, expansible building units have been provided with wing wall sections and wing floor sections of rectangular configuration. It has been found necessary to secure sealing members to the edges of these sections in order to provide a weathertight construction for the unit when it is disposed in the expanded condition. However, when these seals are properly fitted for weather protection, it is normally impossible to fold the wing sections into the complementary rectangular openings provided in the rigid walls of the central building unit. If the fit is thoroughly tight, the seals tend to shear off during expansion or folding of the wing elements. On the other hand, if the fit is made too loose, so that the rectangular opening easily accommodates the wing elements, a gap between the Wing elements and the rectangular frame of the opening results. A further source of difficulty often arises during the assembly of the wing sections if, as often happens, the hinge at one edge of a wing section is secured to the main body of the building unit at a level which is slightly diiferent from that at which the hinge at the opposite end had been attached. Since the resulting variance in the hinge levels makes it impossible to fold the wing section within the rectangular opening, a reassembly of the unit then becomes necessary.

A related problem exists also because of the high coefficient of friction of the rubber seals or the other compressible sealing materials used. Great difficulty is often experienced in maneuvering the wing elements past the framework of the rectangular opening in the main body unit, when the conventional construction described is used.

One object'of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a construction in the wing sections which will permit these sections to be moved easily into or out of the rectangular frame openings in the rigid walls, while at the same time permitting these sections tocooperate with one another and the seals secured thereto, for effective weatherproofing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compressible sealing element which will move past the rectangular wall opening with relative ease.

Still another object is to provide a construction that is relatively simple and yet which permits easy manipulation of the movable parts without danger of damage to these or related elements.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

2,860,384 I Patented Nov. 18, 1958 Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a building unit illustrating one embodiment of the invention, the wing unit on one side being shown in the folded position and the wing unit on the opposite side being shown in the expanded position.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of the building unit shown in Figure l, the view being taken toward the left side as shown in Figure 1, and the wing roof being shown in the raised position with the wing end walls in the folded position adjacent the folded wing floor and side wall assembly.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the building unit shown in Figure 1, with the wing end walls as well as the wing roof being shown in the unfolded position.

Figure 4 is a plan view from above of a portion of the building unit shown in Figure 1, with the wing roof removed for clarity and the Wing end walls being disposed in the expanded position, the wing floor being unfolded but having the wing side wall still folded against it.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of the building unit shown in Figure 1, with all of the wing sections in the expanded and properly aligned position, except the wing roof which has been removed for clarity.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the hinge connection between a Wing end wall and a frame element of the rectangular opening of the fixed side wall, the wing floor being shown in a fragmentary plan view.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the ment of the main roof, a fragmentary side elevation of the wing end wall being also disclosed therein.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of the hinge connection between the wing floor and the wing side wall.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken in a horizontal plane through the corner formed-by the wing side wall and the wing end wall showing the sealing elements disposed between the wing side wall and the wing end wall and that disposed between the wing floor and the wing end wall.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross section show.- ing the outer edge of the wing roof and the upper edge of a wing side wall when both elements are disposed in the expanded position.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the hinge connection between the wing floor and the fixed floor of the central portion of the building unit.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of one of the sealing elements showing the manner in which the element is deformed during relative motion between the wing elements with which the sealing element is associated.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of the expanded building unit partly broken away to show the sealing elements.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 5, reference numeral 10 designates generally an expansible building unit having a central section provided with rigid walls, and a rigid fioor and roof. The side walls 12 thereof may each have formed therein a centrally aligned opening 13 of substantially rectangular configuration, this opening being adapted to receive the wing sections of the building in their folded condition.

As best seen in Figure 2, the wing end walls 14 and 16 :of the unit 10 are preferably tapered along the top edges 18 and 20 thereof. The taper may be gradual and prefand preferably cons r cted from the inner side .36 of the floor to the outer side 38 thereof.

The wing roof 41 may be swung upwardly to the position disclosed in Figures 2 and 3, in order to permit outward pivotal movement of the .Wing end walls 14 and 16.

The tapered construction of the upper edges of the wing end walls permits pivotal motion thereof beneath the wing roof without frictional engagement with the upper horizontal frame element or roof beam 39 (Figure 7) of the rectangular rigid wall opening 13, or with the wing roof 41, except adjacent the hinged edge of the end wall as will be later described. The resistance to the outward pivotal motion of these wing end walls which would otherwise result is thereby eliminated.

Similarly, the beveled construction of the wing floor 30 permits this section to pivot out from or into the rectangular rigid wall frame without frictional engagement with the hinge posts 44 (Figure ,6), except adjacent the hinged edge of the floor 30 or the wing end walls. It will be seen in Figures 1, 4, and 8 that the wing side wall 40 is preferably of rectangular construction and is hingedly secured to the wing floor 30 at the outer lateral edge thereof, the length of the wing side wall therefore corresponding to the length of the wing floor at its shortest point. Thus, the wing floor and wing side wall may pivot outwardly from the frame element in the rigid wall as a unit, the relatively short length of the wing side wall insuring its freedom from frictional engagement with the rectangular frame element and the wing end walls.

Suitable means, such as built-in jacks (not shown) may be used to support the wing floor in the extended position if desired, and upon disposition of the wing floor and wing side wall unit, as aforesaid, the wing side wall may be raised to its vertical position. Thereupon, the wing end walls may be swung inwardly into abutting relationship with the Wing floor and wing side wall, as best shown in Figure 5. The final step in forming the wing portion of the building unit is the downward pivotal movement of the wing roof 41 into abutting relationship with the upper edges of the wing end walls.

While the trapezoidal or tapered configuration of the sections thus described aids in their movement past the other wing elements and into and out of the rectangular frame formed in the rigid side wall, as aforesaid, the problem remains of sealing the building unit against weather at the juncture of the wing floor side edges with the edges of the opening 13 in the fixed side wall 12, and at the juncture of the edges of the wing end walls with the edges of the opening 13.

Figures 6 and 7 disclose the use of metallic bearing shims at these junctures to overcome the problem of the frictional resistance created in forming a tight joint at these juncture points. As seen in Figure 6, a wooden hinge post 44 is shown disposed in substantially abutting relationship to the side edge of the wing floor 30. A metallic bearing shim 46 is secured to the innermost lateral edge of the wing floor 30 contiguous with the main floor 11. A complementary bearing shim 48 is secured to the lower face of the vertical post 44 so that the two shims are adapted to slide past one another during raising or lowering of the wing floor 30. It will be noted that the shim 46 extends past the hinge 50 pivotally securing the end wall 16 to the frame 44, thus affording an effective seal up to the point where the compressible sealing element 52 secured to the end wall 16 can maintain an effective seal, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figure 7, a corresponding construction is disclosed which will overcome the frictional resistance between the wing end walls 14 and 16 and the roof beam 39 during pivotal motion thereof. Thus, a metallic bearing shim 56 is secured to the innermost upper edge of the wing end wall 16, for example, and a complementary metallic bearing shim 58 is fastened to the roof beam 39 adjacent the bearing shim 56. It will be seen that bearing shim 56 extends past the hinge 50 pivotally connecting the wing end wall 16 to the post 44 at one end and past the hinge 62 pivotally connecting the wing roof 41 to the roof beam 39 at the other end. Thus, an effective seal is provided through the bearing shims 56 and 58 at the inner extremity of the upper edge of the wing end wall 16, while the sealing element 64 secured to the lateral edge of the wing roof 41 forms a weatherproofing seal along the remaining portion of the upper edge of the wing end wall 16, as will be indicated hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 8, a suitable hinge connection 66 may be provided between the base of the wing side wall 40 and the outer edge of the wing floor 30. Also, as shown in Figure 9, a rubber sealing member 52 is provided at each of the lower lateral edges of the wing end Walls 16 and 18, which sealing members are adapted to abut the wing fioor 30. A similar rubber sealing member 71 is provided on each of the outer vertical edges of the wing end walls which are adapted to abut the ends of the side wall 40. Each of these rubber sealing members is preferably contained within a stainless steel wall cap 72, as best shown in Figure 9.

In Figure 9 the taper of the lateral edge 34 of the wing floor 30 is illustrated by the reference line 76 which is perpendicular to the wing side wall 40. As previously explained and as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, such a taper is incorporated in the lateral edges of the floor 30 so as to increase the maneuverability of the floor and of their associated wing elements. A suitable angle of taper has been found to be one degree from the vertlcal, which is that amount represented in Figure 9. shallow groove 3oai shrdlu shrdlu shrdlu shrdlu shrshr s Figure 10 discloses the manner in which the seal 15 formed between the outer edge of the wing roof 41 and the upper edge of the wing side wall 40. Here again a sealing element 78 is provided of the corrugated form, previously disclosed, which is disposed within a stainless steel wall cap 72. Suitable means may be provided for locking the roof 41 to the side wall 40 preferably in the form of manually operated clamps (not shown).

Figure 11 discloses a preferred form of hinge arrangement 77 between the wing floor 30 and the fixed center floor 11. A flexible cover 79 of canvas or like material may be provided as shown, so as to form a protective cover for the hinge member.

The corrugated form of sealing member has been found to be useful in that, as shown in Figure 12, if relative movement occurs between closely associated surfaces of wing elements the peaks of the corrugated member will be laterally displaced into the valleys thereof so that such movement may take place Without any permanent damage being done to the sealing member. As shown in Figure 12, if the sealing member 52 on the lower edge of the wing end wall 16 is abutted by the wing fioor member 30 and motion is imparted to the latter during the opening or closing operation the distortion represented in Figure 12 will take place without causing any permanent damage to the sealing member 52.

Referring now to Figure 13, the sealing means 64 is shown which extends beneath the side marginal edges 80 of the roof 41 from the outer edge of the roof to the inner edge. Because of the construction described the upper edges 18 and 20 of the wing end walls 14 and 16 will fit within the cap or channel elements 72 secured to the wing roof and will abut the sealing elements 64 cemented therein when the wing roof is pivoted downwardly into abutting relation with these wing end walls. Correspondingly, the wing side wall 40 will fit within the portion of the channel 72 disposed along the outer edge of the wing roof 41 when the wing side wall is in its extended vertical position and the wing roof has swung into abutting relation therewith. The wing roof may thus seal the upper portion of the entire wing section, when the vertical elements thereof are in expanded positionby pivotal; action downward 'into. abutting relation with these verticalelements. L l 2 Similar construction is provided in order to seal the wing end walls 14 and 16 with the wing floor 30 and with the wing side wall 40. Thus, the corrugated compres- 'sible sealing elements are disposed along the marginal edges of the bases of the wing end walls on the inner side, and along the marginal outer vertical edges thereof on the inner side, preferably being cemented within channel elements corresponding to the channel element 72,'which is in turn secured to thewing end walls. When the wing floor 30 is in its expanded horizontal position and when the wing sidewall -40 has been pivoted upwardlytherefrom into its vertical extended alignment, the wing end walls 14;and 16 may therefore be pivoted inwardly from the position disclosed in Figure 4 into abutting, sealed relationship with the wing floor and wing side wall,as seen in Figure 5. v v

Itjwill thus be seen that efiective means have been provided to seal the juncture of "the wing floor and the wing end walls with the wing' frarrre in the form of bearing shims. Likewise, effective means have been provided ,to seal, the, juncture of the marginal edges of the wi'rigroof with the wing end walls andwing side walls, and the juncturenofthewing endjwalls with the wing floorand'wing side wall in the form of compressible sealing elements. f l H At the, same time, these sealingfmeans, when combined withlt he trapezoidal construction of the wing end walls and the wing floor, previously described, are adapted to virtually eliminate the frictional resistance heretofore encountered when effective sealing was accomplished. The bearing shims for example, are adapted to slide past one anotherwhen disposed in' abutting relationship with an-iinirhum'a'mount of drag during pivotal movement of the wing elements. correspondingly, the novel construction of the sealing means serves to eliminate the greater part ofthe resistance afforded bythe kinds of compressible sealing elements heretofore in use. Thus, as seen' in Figure l2,-when the wing floor is moved pivotally'past the wing end-walls, or when the "wing side wall is moved pivotally past the wing end walls, a squeegee action occurs'wherein the bosses of the sealing elements are displacedor folded laterally into their adjacent grooves. In effect, the moving wing section thus 'is afforded a wider'space inwhich to move. By means of this squeegee action, which may occur in either direction, the wing elements may be secured within the rectangular frame opening of the rigid walls even though thewing sectionshave been constructed to provide a relatively'tig'ht fit' therebetween; Similarly, the corrugated construction of these elements permits of a slight leeway in the accuracy of alignment required in securing the hinges to the main-body unit.

The particular disposition of the compressible sealing elements has been provided in order to form a weatherproofing for an expansible building unit whose parts are pivotally related according to the method shown in Figures 1 through 5. However, should a different relationship between the various wing elements be thought desirable, the compressible sealing elements may be secured according to a different pattern in accordance with the necessities of the variant relationship.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

It is claimed:

1. An expansible trailer comprising a central fixed unit having a rigid floor and roof and rigid end walls; a wing roof, wing end walls and wing floor pivotally secured to said fixed unit, and .a wing side wall of substantially rectangular configuration pivotally secured to the outer edge of the wing floor, a rectangular opening in the side wall of said fixed unit adapted to receive therein said Wing roof, wing end walls, wing floor and wing side wall, and tapered top edges on said wing walls, sealing means secured to the bottom lateral edge and outer vertical edge of the inner surface of each wing end wall, sealing means secured along each lateral edge and along the outer edge of the inner surface of said wing roof, said sealing means including a metal trough with a sealing element therein having a corrugated form in which the peaks are laterally displaced into the valleys during relative movements of said wing end walls and said wing roof for weather-proofing, said expansible unit when said wing end walls abut said wing floor in its extended horizontal position, and when said wing end walls and said wing roof abut said wing side wall in its extended vertical position.

2. An expansible trailer comprising a central fixed unit having a rigid floor and roof and rigid end walls; a wing roof, wing end walls and Wing floor pivotally secured to said fixed unit, and a wing side wall of substantially rectangular configuration pivotally secured to the outer edge of the wing floor, a rectangular opening in the side wall of said fixed unit adapted to receive therein said wing roof, wing end walls, wing floor and wing side wall, and tapered top edges on said wing walls, a metal trough of substantially U shaped cross section secured to the lower lateral edge and outer vertical edge of the inner surface of each wing end well, and along each lateral edge and along the outer edge of the inner surface of said wing roof, and a compressible sealing element secured in each said metal trough.

3. An expansible trailer comprising a central fixed unit having a rigid floor and roof and rigid end walls; a wing roof, Wing end walls and wing fioor pivotally secured to said fixed unit, and a wing side wall of substantially rectangular configuration pivotally secured to the outer edge of the Wing floor, a rectangular opening in the side Wall of said fixed unit adapted to receive therein said wing roof, wing end walls, wing floor and wing side wall, and tapered top edges on said wing end walls, vertical hinge posts disposed along the side edges of said rectangular opening, said hinge posts being disposed adjacent the side edges of said wing floor, said wing end walls being hingedly secured to said hinge posts, a metal bearing shim secured to the lower face of each said vertical post in substantially parallel relationship to said side edges of said wing floor, a metal bearing shim secured to the innermost portion of each of said side edges of said wing floor in substantially abutting relationship to said first-named metal bearing shims whereby said wing floor may easily pivot past said vertical hinge posts, said metal bearing shims secured to said side edges of said wing floor extending past the hinges securing said wing end walls to said hinge posts, a roof beam along the upper horizontal edge of said rectangular opening, said wing roof being hingedly secured to said roof beam, a metal bearing shim secured to each of the endmost horizontal portions of said roof beam, each of said bearing shims extending past the hinge connecting said wing end Walls to said hinge posts and past the hinge connecting said wing roof to said roof beam, a metal bearing shim secured to the innermost upper edge of each said wing end wall, said bearing shims secured to said roof beam and said wing end Walls, respectively, being disposed in substantially abutting relationship whereby said wing end walls may pivot easily past said roof beam, a compressible sealing element secured to the lower lateral edge and outer vertical edge of the inner face of each wing end wall, and a compressible sealing element secured along each lateral edge and along the outer edge of the inner face of said wing side walla in its extended vertical position.

4. An expansible trailer comprising a central fixed unit having a' rigid floor and roof and rigid end walls; a wing roof, wing end walls and wing floor pivotally secured tosaid fixed unit,said wing floor being tapered, and a wing side Wall of substantially rectangular configuration pivotally secured to the outer edge of the wing floor, a rectangular opening inthe side wall of said fixed unit adapted to receive therein said wing roof, wing end walls, wing floor and wing side wall, and tapered top edges on said wing end walls, vertical hinge posts along the side edges of said rectangular opening, said hinge posts being disposed adjacent the side edges of said wing floor, said wing end walls being hingedly secured to said hinge posts, a metal bearing shim secured to the lower face of each said vertical post in substantially parallel relationship to said side edges of said wing floor, ametal bearing shim secured to the innermost portion of each of said side edges of said wing floor in substantially abutting relationship to said first named metal bearing shims whereby said wing floor and wing side wall may easily pivot past said vertical hinge posts as a unit, said metal bearing shims secured to said side edges of said wing floor extending past the hinges securing said wing end Walls to said hinge posts, a roof beam along the upper horizontal edge of said rectangular opening, said wing roof being hingedly secured to said roof beam, a metal bearing shim secured to each of the endmost horizontal portions of said roof beam, each of said bearing shims extending past the hinge connecting said wing end walls to saidhinge posts and past the hinge connecting said wing roof to said roof beam, a metal bearing shim secured to the innermost upper edge of each said wing end wall, said bearing shims secured tosaid roof beam and said wing end walls, respectively, being disposed in substantially abutting relationship whereby said wing end walls may pivot easily past said roof beam, a metal trough secured to the lower lateral edge and outer vertical edge of the inner face of each wing end wall, and along each lateral edge and along the outer edge of the inner face of said wing roof, a compressible sealing element secured within each of said troughs, and substantially coextensive therewith, said sealing elements being adapted to weatherproof said expansible unit when saidwing end walls abut said wing floor in its horizontal extended position and when said wing end walls and said wing roof abut said wing side wall in its extended vertical position, andcor-rugations in saidsealing elements whereby said wing elements are freely movabl'epast one-another and-past1 said rectangular openings 5 An: expansible trailer comprising. a central fixed unit having a rigid floor and roof and: rigid? end walls, a wing, roof, wing end walls and wing; floor pivotally secured to said fixed unit, and a wing. side wall of substantiallyrectangular configuration pivotally securedto the outer edge ofthe wing floor, a rectangular opening in the side wall of said. fixed unit adapted toreceive therein said-wingzroof, wing end walls, wing floor and wing side wall, and tapered top edges on-said wing walls, vertical hinge posts along the side edges ofsaid rectangular opening, said wingend Walls being hingedly secured to said hinge posts, a roof beam along the'upper horizontal edge of said rectangular opening, said wingroof being hingedly secured'to said roof beam, a metal bearing shim secured'to each of the endmost horizontal portions of said roof beam, each of said bearing shims extending past the hinge connecting said'wing end walls to said hinge posts and past the hinge connecting said wing roof to said'roof beam, a metal bearing shim secured to the innermost upper edge of each said wing wall, said bearing shims secured to said roof beam and wing end walls, respectively, being disposed in substantially abutting relationship whereby said wing end walls may pivot easily past saidroof beam, a compressible sealing element secured to the bottom lateral edge and outer vertical edge of' the inner face of each wing end wall, a' compressiblesealing element secured along" each lateral edge and along the outer edge of theJinneI face of said wingroof, said seali'ng elements being" adapted to weatherproof said expan sible unit when said wingend walls abut said wing'floor in its extended horizont'al position" and whensaid wing end wall and sa'id' wing roof abut saidwing side Within its extendedvertical position.

References'Cited in the file 'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,476 Faulhaber et al Dec. 6, 1892 983,015 Anderson Jan. 31, 1911 1,883,609 Dennis Oct. 18, 1932 2,099,597 Carr Nov. 16, 1937 2,155,876 Stout Apr. 25, 1939 2,395,691 Smith Feb. 26, 1946 2,484,312 Rebovrs Oct. 11, 1949 2,589,416 Miller Mar. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 828,477 France Feb. 14, 1938 482,243 Canada Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,860,384 November 18, 1958 Clyde F Wait et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed apeoifioaiion of the above numbered patent requiring eorraetion and that the aaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 33, strike out "shallow groove Boai shrdlu shrdlu shrdlu shrdlu shrshrs"; column 6, line 33, for "well" read Wall Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March 1959.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE Attesting Ofiicer ROBERT C, WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

